Chattanooga, TN (October 30, 2015) --- Chattanooga State Community College is home to outstanding innovative programs. When students perform with excellence, their instructors are justifiably proud. Dr. Jody Hancock, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program director, recently received word that two of her graduates, Katherine (Katie) Talmont and Jessica Earl, who collaborated with her on a course-based research project, placed third in the Sonographer Poster Competition during the Annual Conference of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) in Dallas, Texas.

Katie and Jessica are August 2015 graduates with Advanced Technical Certificates in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Jessica is employed by Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, and Contemporary Women’s Health in Knoxville. Katie works at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.

“The competition focus recognizes outstanding achievement in the sonography profession, encouraging sonographers and sonography student members to share research findings to enhance the professional body’s knowledge and commitment to best practices,” states Hancock.

Using the hypothesis that the skin surface distance to the appendix would play a significant role in the appendiceal diagnosis of pediatric patients, the poster was titled, The Accuracy of Sonographic Visualization of the Appendix According to Depth from Skin Surface. “Receiving third place among many university and graduate level research sonographers was indeed a privilege for us,” says Hancock.

To learn more about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, visit https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/nursing-allied-health or phone 423.697.3360.